Assuming the continuance of peace with all the violence of a prejudice, he permitted the strength and resources of the Navy to deteriorate rapidly, both by direct action and by omission to act.

"Lord St.
Vincent," wrote Minto in November, 1802, "is more violent than anybody against the war, and has declared that he will resign if ministers dare go to war.

His principal reason is, I believe, that the ships are so much out of repair as to be unfit for service." "Lord Nelson," he says at the same period, "has been with me a long time to-day.

He seems much of my mind on material points, but especially on the necessity of being better prepared than we now are." The admiral's own letters at this time make little allusion to the measures, or the neglects, which were rapidly undermining the efficiency of the fleet; but a year after leaving England he wrote, "With all my personal regard for Lord St.Vincent, I am sorry to see that he has been led astray by the opinion of ignorant people.

There is scarcely a thing he has done since he has been at the Admiralty that I have not heard him reprobate before he came to the Board." Much as he enjoyed his home and desired peace, Nelson had never felt assured of its continuance.